Author Calvin Tomkins passed away on March 20, 2026, at the age of 100. Introduction Calvin Tomkins was an American author and art critic. He was best known for his extensive work for The New Yorker and his coverage of avant-garde art movements. His death draws attention due to his influence on post-war art criticism and his role in making experimental art accessible to a broad audience. Career and Achievements Tomkins began his career in the 1950s and initially worked for Radio Free Europe and Newsweek. Later, he worked for more than four decades at The New Yorker, where he became one of the most prominent voices in art criticism. In the 1980s, he held formal roles as an art critic and columnist. Radio Free Europe, 1953-1957. Newsweek, 1957-1961. Official art critic for The New Yorker, 1980-1986. Author of the ‘Art World’ column in The New Yorker, 1980-1988. Wrote biographical studies and profiles of important artists, including work on Marcel Duchamp. Tomkins reported on movements such as pop art, earth art, minimalism, video art, happenings, and installation art. He was a pioneer in taking video art and digital media seriously. His approach combined personal interviews with theoretical analysis, making experimental art understandable for a broad readership. He interviewed and profiled many important 20th-century artists and cultural figures. His articles serve as valuable historical sources on the development of modern and contemporary art. Private Life Calvin Tomkins was born on December 17, 1925, in Orange, New Jersey, United States. He was American by nationality. He was married four times; his last marriage was in 1988 to Dodie Kazanjian. Death Tomkins died on March 20, 2026, at the age of 100. The place of death has not been confirmed. The cause of death is not publicly known. To date, no widely confirmed public reactions or memorials have been reported. Conclusion With the passing of Calvin Tomkins, the art world loses a pioneering and accessible critic. His legacy lies in the many interviews, critical essays, and biographical studies that document the development of avant-garde art in the twentieth century. On Overleden.net, you can find more notable deceased figures from the art world. This article was prepared with the support of AI tools and verified by the editorial team of Overleden.net.